In this review, we will be comparing 606 S3 and R3 Meta, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Bowers Wilkins and KEF. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 606 S3 and KEF R3 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the B&W 606 S3 and KEF R3 Meta speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size and max power parameters:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the B&W 606 S3 and KEF R3 Meta compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that 606 S3 is a 2-way design whereas the R3 Meta is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
B&W 606 S3 |
KEF R3 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
606 S3 features a 1" Titanium Decoupled Double Dome Titanium Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer . On the other hand, the R3 Meta features a 1" Aluminum with MAT absorber Hard-Dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 420Hz and 2300Hz.
Frequency Response
606 S3 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz whereas R3 Meta has a frequency range of 58-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the 606 S3 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R3 Meta's min frequency of 58Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
606 S3 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the R3 Meta which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the R3 Meta can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. 606 S3 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the R3 Meta's is rated at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the B&W 606 S3 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R3 Meta, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
606 S3 can handle a max power of 180 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 606 S3 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS , 60 watts less than the R3 Meta.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both 606 S3 and R3 Meta features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
B&W 606 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
KEF R3 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 606 S3 and R3 Meta have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare B&W 606 S3's and KEF R3 Meta's external dimensions. B&W 606 S3 has external dimensions of 344.0 x 189.0 x 328.0mm ( 13.6 x 7.4 x 12.9inch) whereas KEF R3 Meta has external dimensions of 423.0 x 202.0 x 337.0mm ( 16-5/8-inch x 7-15/16-inch x 13-1/4-inch) .
KEF R3 Meta is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 13mm wider, 79mm taller and 9mm deeper than B&W 606 S3.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of B&W 606 S3 and KEF R3 Meta in scale.
Comparison image of B&W 606 S3 and KEF R3 Meta Size and External Dimensions
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the B&W 606 S3 is approximately 619.9cm2 / 96.1inch2 and base area of the KEF R3 Meta is approximately 680.7cm2 / 105.5inch2. The 606 S3 requires 9% less surface area than the R3 Meta which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of B&W 606 S3 and KEF R3 Meta on a Media Console
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The B&W 606 S3 weighs 7.05kg / 15.5lbs and the KEF R3 Meta weighs 12.41kg / 27.3lbs. This makes the R3 Meta 76% heavier than the 606 S3.
Here is a comparison of how 606 S3 and R3 Meta's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of B&W 606 S3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 606 S3:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles 2 Two-piece foam port plugs 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet 4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed) Manual Bowers & Wilkins brochure Warranty Information
What's in the Box of KEF R3 Meta?
Here are the items that come with the R3 Meta:
1 pair of R3 Meta loudspeakers 1 pair of microfiber grilles Rubber feet Port bungs User manual and warranty information
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Minimum Impedance |
3.7 ohms
vs
3.2 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
52 Hz
vs
58 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
344mm
vs
423mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
619cm2 (189x328mm)
vs
680cm2 (202x337mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1100USD
vs
2199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
180 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
| General |
Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3 |
KEF R3 Meta |
| Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-120 watts |
15-180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.7 ohms |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
52-28k Hz |
58-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Continuum |
Hybrid Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Decoupled Double Dome Titanium |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
420Hz and 2300Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
344.0mm (13.5") |
423.0mm (16.7") |
| Width |
189.0mm (7.4") |
202.0mm (8") |
| Depth |
328.0mm (12.9") |
337.0mm (13.3") |
| Weight |
7.05kg (15.5lbs) |
12.41kg (27.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Matte Black, Matte White, Oak, Red Cherry |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut, Indigo Gloss Special Edition |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 years |